Dearie,Blossom Complete Recordings: 1952-62 CD

American jazz singer and pianist, Margrethe Blossom Dearie, was born April 28, 1924 in East Durham, New York. As a child she studied classical piano but switched to jazz in her teens. Often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her light and girlish voice, she was one of the last supper club performers, hosting regular engagements in London and New York City across many years. After high school Dearie moved to New York City to pursue a music career and began to sing in groups such as the Blue Flames (with the Woody Herman Orchestra) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey's band) before starting her solo career. She moved to Paris in 1952 and formed a vocal group, The Blue Stars of France, which included Michel Legrand's sister, Christiane Legrand, and Bob Dorough. In 1954 the group had a hit in France with a French-language version of "Lullaby of Birdland". The Blue Stars would later evolve into the Swingle Singers. While in Paris, Dearie met her future husband, Belgian flautist and saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. On her first solo album, released two years later, she played the piano but did not sing. One of her most famous songs from this period is "The Riviera", which was written and composed by Cy Coleman and Joseph McCarthy Jr. After returning from France, Dearie made her first six American albums as a solo singer and pianist for Verve Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, mostly in a small trio or quartet setting. Dave Garroway, host of The Today Show and an early fan of Dearie, featured her on several occasions, increasing her exposure with the popular audience. In 1962, she recorded a radio commercial for Hires Root Beer. As it proved very popular, the LP Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs was released as a premium item that could be ordered for one dollar and a proof of purchase. This collection contains eight complete albums from this remarkable artist's most celebrated era, covering the years 1955 to 1962.

1. Moody's Mood for Love 2. Lullaby of Birdland 3. Tout Bas [Speak Low] 4. Gina 5. Plus Je T'emmbrasse [Heart of My Heart] 6. Toute Ma Joie [That's My Girl] 7. Les Lavandieres Du Portugal [The Portuguese Washerwomen] 8. Mister L'amour [Mister Sandman] 9. En 1920 [In 1920] 10. Embrasse Moi Bien [Hold Me Close] 11. Lettre a Virginie [Letter to Virginia] 12. Danse Du Baiser [The Kissing Dance] 13. Mambo Italiano 14. Old Devil Moon 15. Autumn in New York 16. Flamingo 17. There Will Never Be Another You 18. Continental 19. Boy Next Door 20. They Can't Take That Away from Me 21. Moonlight Saving Time 22. Surrey with the Fringe on Top 23. April in Paris 24. Blue Moon 25. Down in the Depths 26. Deed I Do 27. Loverman 28. Everything I've Got 29. Comment Allez Vous 30. More Than You Know 31. Thou Swell 32. It Might As Well Be Spring 33. Tout Doucement 34. You for Me 35. Now at Last 36. I Hear Music 37. Wait Till You See Her 38. I Won't Dance 39. Fine Spring Morning 40. Just One of Those Things 41. Like Someone in Love 42. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 43. They Say It's Spring 44. Try Your Wings 45. Bang Goes the Drum (And You're in Love) 46. Riviera 47. Middle of Love 48. Plus T'embrasse 49. Give Him the Ooh-La-La 50. Let Me Love You 51. I Walk a Little Faster 52. Tea for Two 53. Surrey with the Fringe on Top 54. Moonlight Saving Time 55. It Amazes Me 56. If I Were a Bell 57. We're Together 58. Teach Me Tonight 59. Once Upon a Summertime 60. Down with Love 61. Manhattan 62. Doop-Doo-De-Doop (A Doodlin' Song) 63. Our Love Is Here to Stay 64. Lucky to Be Me 65. Just in Time 66. Some Other Time 67. Dance Only with Me 68. I Like Myself 69. Party's Over 70. How Will He Know 71. It's Love 72. Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me 73. Lonely Town 74. Guys and Dolls 75. Confession 76. Rhode Island Is Famous for You 77. To Keep My Love Alive 78. Too Good for the Average Man 79. Gentleman Is a Dope 80. Always True to You in My Fashion 81. Napoleon 82. Life Upon the Wicked Stage 83. Physician 84. Love Is the Reason 85. Buckle Down, Winsocki 86. Little Jazz Bird 87. Gentleman Friend 88. It's Too Good to Talk About Now 89. Chez Moi 90. You Fascinate Me 91. You've Got Something I Want 92. Boum! 93. L'etang 94. Hello Love 95. Someone to Watch Over Me